Local Cumming chef wins national contest

CUMMING, Ga. — Cole Smith, a cook at Mellow Mushroom at the Collection at Forsyth, has created a winning dish.

Smith, who graduated from North Forsyth High in 2008, entered his “Slow Ridin’ Chicken Salad” in the company-wide contest.

Sales of the dish at the Collection location, 410 Peachtree Parkway, where Smith works, have been great, a manager said.

Mellow Mushroom had polled servers, bartenders, prep and line cooks from 160 locations to curate the new Homegrown Picks menu, which are only available through March 31.

Additional options on the Homegrown Picks menu include Suwanee resident Ben Power’s “Thaidal Wave Hoagie,” named the overall winner in the contest, and “Quirky Turkey Club Pie,” a pizza creation with turkey, bacon and apples by Virginia resident Victor Alavarenga.